In the News

The Dunn Daily Record
By Keilah Goff
Tuesday, February 23, 2016

U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers of Dunn presented Dunn Police Sgts. Jeff Williams and John Parker with United States flags flown over the U.S Capitol in honor of their heroic actions during a recent house fire.

Residents of the Dunn apartment building at 607 W. Broad St. were awakened by the officers in the early morning hours Feb. 3 as a fire began to sweep through the structure.

Sgt. Williams was on his way home from his shift just before 2 a.m. when he saw heavy smoke pouring from the second floor of the circa-1920 house, converted to six apartments.

He was joined by Sgt. Parker, who was on patrol. The officers entered the building and knocked on doors to alert residents to the fire and evacuate them all safely from the building.

“I pulled up and got to the front of the residence. (Sgt. Williams) was already clearing out the back of the residence,” Sgt. Parker remembered from that night. “We started banging on doors. The residents were asleep — we woke them up. I was yelling at them to get out of the house — that the house was on fire — and they did so. They were very appreciative.”

The officers said five families made it from the house, unharmed.

According to Dunn Emergency Services, fire departments from Dunn, Erwin, Benson, Coats, Plain View, Godwin/Falcon and Wade responded to the two-alarm fire. The blaze was contained around 4 a.m.

In the Friday afternoon ceremony at Rep. Ellmers’ district office in Dunn, she praised the effort of the officers.

“We know that you selflessly give of yourselves — you, your families. But, many times we forget to tell people how proud we are and what a great job they are doing,” said Rep. Ellmers. “I think our whole Dunn Police Department — and any of our first responders — are always, always there for us, and this is our opportunity to be able to say thank you so much for being the people that you are and understanding that you sometimes have to give yourself in a way that changes other peoples’ lives.”

“From our staff to you, and from a grateful nation to you, thank you for your service and sacrifice,” she said.

“If those guys hadn’t been alert and doing what they do, there is no doubt in my mind that someone would have perished in that fire,” said Dunn Police Chief Jimmy Pope. “They are both a credit to our organization.”

Sgt. Williams said he has trouble explaining his actions as a police officer to many people who cannot comprehend the risk.

“People ask me all the time, ‘Why do you do what you do?’” said Sgt. Williams. “It is not something that is easily answered, but even you could answer it, they couldn’t understand. It’s about the man beside you, the people you serve, the people in your community. You’ve taken an oath to protect and help them.”

“It is just what we do. You do it without thinking. It is just the way we are wired,” he added.

Renee Ellmers, a Dunn Republican, represents North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District - which includes Fort Bragg.